Syrian President Bashar al-Assad agreed to begin implementing a UN-Arab League peace plan (al-Jazeera) to end the ongoing government crackdown on opposition forces by April 10. However, the UN-Arab League envoy, Kofi Annan, reported Monday that the government had made "no progress" in implementing a cease-fire, as Western diplomats voiced skepticism over Assad's intentions. At the same time, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Jakob Kellenberger, is set to visit Damascus today. Kellenberger is expected to lobby the government to allow for a daily two-hour suspension of hostilities (NYT), allowing for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

"American officials like to depict this as a war of the 'Syrian people' against a dictator. They got the dictator part right, but as of now lots of 'Syrian people' are still on his side. That includes not just fellow Alawites, but Syria's two million Christians and no small number of Sunnis, especially the more affluent ones," writes the Atlantic's Robert Wright.

"The [Syrian] economy is crumbling quickly and although the poorest segments of Syrian society have suffered its inefficiencies, capriciousness, and impending collapse since even before the first protests, the middle class is finally starting to understand its own precarious position," notes an anonymous writer living in Syria, in a guest post for Nicholas D. Kristof's New York Times blog.

PACIFIC RIM

Myanmar Confirms Suu Kyi's Victory

Myanmar's military-backed civilian government confirmed that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in Sunday's parliamentary by-elections, capturing forty out of forty-five seats (WSJ).

The elections brought democratic forces into parliament for the first time in fifty years. But Myanmar's rapid reforms still must be viewed as small steps in a country where military forces retain considerable power, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick in this Expert Brief.

The U.S. State Department announced a $10 million reward (TimesofIndia) for the capture of Pakistani militant Hafiz Saeed, who is accused of orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Saeed is the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a U.S. designated terrorist organization.

Pakistan has emerged as a terrorist sanctuary for some of the world's most violent groups, including al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and homegrown militants, that threaten the stability of Pakistan as well as the region, explains this CFR Backgrounder.

MIDDLE EAST

Israeli PM Calls for Eviction Delay

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Defense Minister Ehud Barak to delay the eviction of Jewish settlers (BBC) who took over a house in the West Bank city of Hebron last week, allowing them to "make their legal case." Around 180,000 Palestinians live in Hebron, along with 500 Israeli settler families.

The unemployment rate in the eurozone increased to 10.8 percent (WSJ) in February, according to Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency. The Markit Economics Purchasing Managers' Index, a measurement of manufacturing output, fell to 47.7 in March.

The eurozone, once seen as a crowning achievement in the decades-long path of European integration, is buffeted by a sovereign debt crisis of nations whose membership in the currency union has been poorly policed.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC rebels, released yesterday four soldiers and six police officers (NYT) who were held hostage for up to fourteen years. President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the development, but called on FARC to release all civilian hostages the group is holding for ransom.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army are Colombia's two predominant rebel groups. While both have been depleted in recent years, they remain destabilizing forces, explains this CFR Backgrounder.

UNITED STATES: President Barack Obama, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed to promote greater economic growth and trade, fight drug-related crimes, and focus on energy development, at a meeting of North American leaders (VancouverSun) at the White House yesterday.

CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Wants to 'Simplify' Immigration

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney attempted to clarify his position (ABC) on illegal immigration ahead of today's Wisconsin primary, saying his policy would be both to secure the border and simplify legal immigration.

Romney's comments came on a day when the Obama administration arrested more than 3,100 immigrants residing illegally in the United States and who were convicted of serious crimes or otherwise considered threats to national security (AP).

Jobs, the economy, and a candidate's views on international affairs, including defense and terrorism, remain at the top of voters' important issues lists, says a new Gallup poll.

Editor's Note: For more information on the presidential election and foreign policy check out CFR's campaign blog, The Candidates and the World.

soundoff(19 Responses)

bul sh it

SYRIA WILL NEVER AGREE TO SUCH THINGS THIS IS ALL BULS HIT, SYRIAN ARE KILLERS IN BREED, SHIIA THUGS EVIL CULT 8% OF POPULATION CONTROLING THE REST WITH IRON FIST, THE KILLED 14,000 CEVILIANS ALREADY, THEY GOT HELP FROM IRAN CASH MONEY AND RUSSIAN WEAPONS AND THE KILLERS HIZBOALLAH DO THE JOB FOR THEM......

It would be very advisable to Bashar al-Assad to quit firing on the so-called "rebels" as a failure to do so would only play into the hands of both Israel and the West! This will only provide the West with another pretext to interfere in Syria's internal affairs and call for a "regime change" as the right-wing thugs in Washington put it!!!

Annan's plan on ceasefire enables also Assad's butchers to have a breathing space. They must have been exhausted, pounding one city after the other. They will resume the slaughter as soon as their time comes again.

The $10 million bounty on Hafiz Saeed, head of one of Pakistan's insurgent groups Laskar-e-Toiba, who was held responsible for the Mumbai attacks in 2008, was scorned by many. Saeed is not in hiding and is seen in public frequently. He's the founding member of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a radical Islamist charity organisation dedicated to installing Islamist rule over parts of India and Pakistan,

Here is a shining example of how the right-wing thugs in Washington are trying to bribe their way to another victory halfway around the world. This Hafiz Saeed will most probably end up being slaughtered like a pig in a pen just like the purported Ussama bin Laden was on May 2, last. The thugs in Washington have no sense of morality at all, none!!!

Why would someone want to put a bounty on a person that is walking around freely and can be picked up for nothing? Hmmmm.????!!!!!.. Why would USA offer $10 million for this person who is accused of masterminding the Bombay incident (tens of thousands of miles away) particulalry when India betrayed and double crossed Americans in Iran...???? Another Hmmmmmm...!!!??? This will all come up during the US presidential elections debate.

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